Carpet-sweeper



(Model) 0. L. TRAVIS.

CARPET SWEEPER. No. 254,410. 8 Patented Feb. 28,1882.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFF-ICE. I

CHARLES L. TRAVIS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO MERVIN TABOR, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

CARPET-SWEEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,410, dated February 28, 1882 Application filed June 9,1881. (ModcL) To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, CHARLES L. TRAVIS, of

Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oarpet-0leaners and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relatesto that class of sweepers in which a traveling bodyis provided with internal dust-receptacles and a rotary brush driven by means of wheels or rolls which sus tain the body.

The objects of my invention are to simplify and cheapen the machines, impart a strong and positive motion to the brush, adapt the machine for operatingin all places, prevent the dust and dirt from being thrown out of the body by the brush, and enable the machine to sweep closely to the side walls of the apartment in which it may be used.

The invention consists in various features of construction, hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved sweeper; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the machine on the line mm, Fig. 4; Fig.3, a transverse vertical section of the machine on the line y y,- Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of the machine.

.A represents the body or casing of the machine, consisting of ends and sides and a top permanently secured thereto. The end pieces, a, of the body extend beyond the closed sides of the same to receive the journals of the two supporting and driving rolls B, which travel upon the carpet. These rolls, which are covered with cloth to give them greatadhesion to the carpet, extend the entire width of the machine, and being located outside of the body, the dust-pans, and the brush, they prevent the brush from throwing the dust outward into the air. Each of the rolls B is provided at the outer side of the body with a grooved pulley, 0.

At the center of the body I mount therein the transverse cylindrical brush D, which may be of any ordinary construction. At one end this brush is sustained upon a stud or journal formed upon a vertically-adjustable plate, 0, which is slotted and secured to the body by means of screws or bolts, as shown. At the opposite end the roll is sustained and driven by means of a square journal, f, provided on its outer end with a grooved pulley, 9, this journal being passed through a vertically-adjustable plate, h, which is secured to thebody in the same manner as plate 0. Thejo'urn'alf may be withdrawn at will to release the brush, and permits its removal from the machine.

Motion is communicated tothebrush bymcans of a belt, t, passing around its pulley g, around the pulleys of the two tractionrolls, and over an idle-pulley, k, which is mounted on a swinging arm, I, as shown in Fig. 1. A spring, m, secured to the body and acting against the swinging arm, causes the pulley k to keep the belt taut. I

Within the body, on opposite sides of the brush, there are two dust-receivin g pans, a, each having an upturned inner edge to retain the dirt, and a flat base or bottom which travels 'upon or close to the carpet. Each pan is pivoted at its two ends, as indicated at p, and is closed on the outer side by its bottom fitting snugly against the under edge of the body, as shown at q. When the machine-is in action the pans are retained in their proper positions to receive and retain the dirt by restingon the carpet, but when the machine is raised from the floor the outer edges of the pans may be turned downward, as represented by dotted lines in the drawings, to discharge the dirt. It will be noticed that this construction avoids the necessity of using catches or looking devices to hold the pans.

In order to protect the driving-gear and the walls of the apartment from injury, the body A has its top extended over and beyond the gear, as shown.

The machine is propelled, as usual, by means of a reversible handle, 0, connected to the body by forked arms journaled to the ends of the body, as shown.

For the purpose of enabling the machine to sweep in the angle between the floor and wall the body has one end cut away or beveled outward from the inside to a thin edge, as shown at s, whereby the bristles of the brush are permitted to travel practically in line with the outside of the machine. It is to be noted that by connecting the driving-belt with both of the sustaining-rolls a stronger and more rapid action of thebrush may be secured than otherwise. This construction also adapts the machine for use in many places-for instance, around the edges of rugs and in other narrow places where only one roll will adhere to the floor. The extension of the belt from the brushpulley totwo pulleys on opposite sides is also advantageous in that the belt is prevented from shifting sidewise, and thus caused to hold the pinion of the brush-pulley to its place in the brush.

It will be noticed that the cloth-covered rolls extend beyond the sides of the body, so that they will serve as cushions or fenders to prevent the body from striking and defacing the walls 1 V i V I am aware that carpet-sweepers embracing a closed body, a rotary brush, dust-pans, and rolls or, wheels for driving the-brush have been constructed ina variety of forms. My inyentionis limited to the features of construction hereinafter specified, whereby I produce a miachine superior in many respects to those n winus v lain aware that a sweeper has been constructedin which two narrow wheels, mounted at one endof the body, have been connectedby a belt with an intermediate brush. Therefore I do not claim broadly connecting the brush with two driving-wheels, my invention in this regard consisting in two rolls the en tire width of the machine in front and rear of the body respectively, and connecting the two rolls thus arranged by a driving-belt with the brush.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of the following elements: the closed body, two traction-rolls, each extending the entire length of the body outside thereof, a central rotary brush, pulleys mounted upon the ends of the rolls, a fixed pulley upon the body, a movable pulley mounted upon the swinging arm acted upon by a spring, and a belt extending around the four pulleys, in the manner described and shown.

'2. In a carpet-sweeper, the'combination of the pulleys c a, mounted upon the traction-rolls, the brush-driven pulley g, sustained in the vertically-adjustable plate h, the pulley k, arm I, and springfpvith belt-i, as shown, wherebya vertical adjustment of the brush is permitted and the belt kept taut.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- CHARLES L. TRAVIS.

'Wituesses:

(J. H. Low, W; H. WHALLON. 

